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  Device inspection device, device inspection system using the same, and mobile telephone holding deviceUSPTO Application #: 20070205751Title: Device inspection device, device inspection system using the same, and mobile telephone holding device Abstract: [Solution] The device inspection apparatus comprises an adapter unit 2 on which a cellular phone 1 is mounted; a camera 4 for picking up the image of an LCD panel 3, which serves as a display section for the cellular phone 1; a plunger unit 7, which has a plurality of releases 6 for pressing a key button 5 on the cellular phone 1; a computer 8 for controlling the operation of the plunger unit 7 and exercising control, for instance, for judging the contents of the LCD panel 3; and a monitor 9 for displaying an LCD panel image and an image based on a signal from the computer 8. A still picture, motion picture, or audio output, which is acquired when a release 6 presses a key button 5, is compared against a predetermined expected image or sound to judge the functionality of the cellular phone 1.
[Object] To provide a device inspection apparatus that is capable of judging the functions of operating control buttons on a cellular phone or like device automatically and easily. (end of abstract)
Agent: Kubovcik & Kubovcik - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Yoshio Suzuki, Masako Watanabe USPTO Applicaton #: 20070205751 - Class: 324158100 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070205751. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a 371 of international application PCT/JP2005/000838, which claims priority based on Japanese patent application Nos. 2004-015066 filed Jan. 23, 2004, 2004-199348 filed Jul. 6, 2004, and 2004-332490 filed Nov. 16, 2004, which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus and retainer for judging whether operating control buttons and cover open/close mechanism of a cellular phone or other device function as designed. BACKGROUND ART [0003] As is generally known, cellular phones, PHS phones, PDAs, game machines, notebook personal computers, and car navigation devices are provided with a large number of operating control buttons and wired or wireless input terminals. Users of these devices are supposed to operate the operating control buttons and input signals with the input terminals. In recent years, many folding type devices are released. These devices are constructed so that an LCD or other display section and an operating control section having operating control buttons and other controls are hinged together. The operating control buttons on a cellular phone or PHS phone, for instance, are used not only for dialing a phone number and entering characters, but also for setting up various telephone functions and computer functions. [0004] The functions set up as described above include automatic lock, call cost display, use time display, ringtone setup, user information setup, and language setup functions. A wide variety of complicated functions can be set up for currently marketed cellular phones. This also holds true for the PDAs, game machines, notebook personal computers, and car navigation devices. [0005] Further, the display sections on the PDAs and car navigation devices often use a touch panel. The above-mentioned functions can be exercised by operating not only hard operating control buttons but also on-screen soft operating control buttons. Unless otherwise stated, the term "operating control buttons" hereinafter refers to not only hard operating control buttons but also on-screen soft operating control buttons. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention [0006] Under the above circumstances, manufacturers of cellular phones, PDAs, and other devices need to judge, prior to shipment, whether the operating control buttons properly work to perform setup and other functions. The manufacturers of cellular phones and other devices have performed such an outgoing judgment/verification procedure in a virtually manual manner. The outgoing judgment/verification procedure needs to be improved because it is considerably bothersome. [0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inspection apparatus for checking automatically and easily whether operating control buttons on cellular phones and other devices can perform various setup operations as designed. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS [0008] In one aspect of the present invention, a device inspection apparatus for inspecting the operation of an inspection target device that changes its internal state in accordance with an external input, including an object-contact-based input, audio input, wired signal input, wireless signal input, infrared signal input, and image signal input, and operates built-in output means to transmit an external output, including video and audio, in accordance with a change in the internal state comprises inspection item output means for generating an output in response to the external input and delivering the generated output to the inspection target device, detection means for detecting an output from output means of the inspection target device outside the inspection target device, and scenario setup means for specifying the procedure for operating the inspection item output means. The inspection item output means operates in accordance with the procedure specified by the scenario setup means to selectively input an external input for the purpose of checking whether the output of the inspection target device, which is detected by the detection means, agrees with an expected value that is predicted from the internal state of the inspection target device and the external input. [0009] In another aspect of the present invention, the inspection item output means of the device inspection apparatus includes a robot that has a predetermined degree of freedom in operating a plurality of switches and controls. [0010] In another aspect of the present invention, the inspection item output means of the device inspection apparatus is such that the inspection target device includes audio input means, video signal input means, wired signal input means, or radio, infrared, or electromagnetic wireless input means. [0011] In another aspect of the present invention, a device inspection apparatus for inspecting the operation of an inspection target device that includes an operating control section, which has a plurality of operating control buttons, and a display section whose on-screen contents vary in accordance with the operation of at least one of the operating control buttons comprises image pickup means for picking up an image of the display section, an adapter for placing the inspection target device in a predetermined state in relation to the image pick means, button control means including a plurality of press means that are capable of pressing one of the operating control buttons, control means for selecting the button control means and exercising operating control, and display means for displaying an image acquired by the image pickup means and an image based on a signal supply from the control means. The control means includes means for displaying a previously obtained overall image of the inspection target device on the display means, button assignment means for defining the relationship between operating control images within the overall image displayed by the display means and a plurality of press means of the button control means, means for displaying an image of the display section, which is obtained by the image pickup means, at a display section position of the displayed overall image, and scenario setup means for specifying the procedure for operating the press means, and can check for agreement between the contents displayed by a display on the inspection target device and an image displayed by the display section by operating the press means according to the procedure specified by the scenario setup means to selectively operate the plurality of press means. [0012] In another aspect of the present invention, the adapter incorporates a microphone for collecting a sound that is emitted by the inspection target device. [0013] In another aspect of the present invention, the adapter incorporates a speaker for generating an amplified output of a sound that is emitted by the inspection target device. [0014] In another aspect of the present invention, the adapter covers at least an upper surface of the operating control section of the inspection target device and includes a guide plate, which has at least the same number of guide holes as that of required operating control buttons to position the press means in alignment with the required operating control buttons. [0015] In another aspect of the present invention, the inspection target device is a folding type, open/close device that includes the display section and operating control section, which are hinged together, and an operating control button for opening. The operating control means includes press means for operating the operating control button for opening. [0016] Another aspect of the present invention includes image judgment means for comparing an image displayed on the display of the inspection target device, which is picked up by the image pickup means, against an image displayed on the display section, and generating information for indicating the agreement between the compared images. In another aspect of the present invention, the image judgment means judges either still pictures or motion pictures. [0017] In another aspect of the present invention, the image judgment means is provided with a process for calibrating the image pickup means. [0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the image judgment means compares a shot image against a reference image, extracts an area representing a difference between the compared images, and judges a display error location. [0019] In another aspect of the present invention, the image judgment means corrects a judgment target image by enhancing its contrast and handles the corrected image as the judgment target image. Continue reading... Full patent description for Device inspection device, device inspection system using the same, and mobile telephone holding device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Device inspection device, device inspection system using the same, and mobile telephone holding device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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